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DENVER, CO - The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee today passed legislation to prevent evictions and keep Coloradans safely housed, outlining the conditions when landlords would have grounds to file for evictions or “no-fault” lease terminations. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4.
“After I escaped my abuser, I struggled to make ends meet as a single mom, and I spent endless nights worrying that my son and I would lose the roof over our heads,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Unnecessary evictions perpetuate cycles of abuse and are another barrier that survivors face when they leave their abuser. I’m proudly sponsoring this legislation to prevent Colorado families from being displaced from their homes so they can create an environment for their children to learn, grow, and thrive.”
“Far too many Coloradans have ended up homeless because of discriminatory or retaliatory evictions against renters that abided by their lease,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “‘Our ‘For Cause Eviction’ legislation protects Colorado renters from avoidable evictions by clearly outlining reasons when an eviction is allowed, protecting renters that pay their rent and abide by their lease from being pushed out of their homes. This critical legislation will help alleviate housing insecurity, reduce homelessness, and protect the health and safety of Colorado renters.”
Currently, Colorado law exposes renters to possible arbitrary, retaliatory or discriminatory evictions. The ‘For Cause Eviction’ legislation would prevent a landlord from evicting a tenant unless there is cause for eviction. Under HB24-1098, the reasons a landlord could lawfully evict a tenant include failure to pay rent in a timely manner, destruction of property, or a substantial violation of the rental agreement.
The bill also includes allowable reasons for a no-fault lease non-renewal, including substantial repairs or conversion of a residential premises, and selling the property. Some exceptions to the ‘For Cause Eviction’ bill include rentals within the landlord’s primary residence, short-term rentals, mobile homes and for employers who provide housing to employees.
Evictions threaten the health and safety of Coloradans, with research showing that individuals who experience an eviction are more likely to report poorer physical or mental health outcomes. In 2023, Denver set a new record of annual evictions, reaching nearly 13,000 filings.